I love a good mystery and a good homage, so trust me when I say that this is the BEST Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast book to date!

Josh Funk has visited my blog numerous times over the last few years that I’ve known him.  He is the co-creator of the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, including Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast, The Case of the Stinky Stench, Mission Defrostable, Short & Sweet, The Great Caper Caper, and Attack of the Scones. His other works include How to Code a Sandcastle, Lost in the Library, Albie Newton, and more. Josh lives in Massachusetts with his family. You can learn more about him at his website or follow him on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

WHODONUT? A HOLIDAY MYSTERY is an incredible homage to Agatha Christie. All mystery lovers will adore this one as it include so many mystery tropes I was practically squeeing with delight. I don’t want to describe too much and give it all away, but even all of the winter holidays get a nod! This book is brilliant and funny, with both an incredible rhyme and amazing illustrations. And it’s not just me saying that! It’s the number 1 pick that booksellers recommend for Kids’ Indie Next read all of September and October.

Welcome back Josh!

Me: You have seven books now in the Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast series. Seven! And this one is being released on the 10^th anniversary of the first book’s release. Ten years! And what an incredible book to be published on this special anniversary. I know I say this every time, but this really is my favorite book in the series so far! Was this the plan all along? 7 books? An anniversary release? Or was it simply glorious coincidence? 

Josh: First, thanks so much for having me back for another Simply 7 interview. You’ve always got the most thoughtful (and fun to answer) questions.

AND thanks so much for the kind words about WHODONUT.

To answer your question, it was a little bit coincidence and a little bit planned. All but book #2, THE CASE OF THE STINKY STENCH, had been released in the fall. And once they moved back to the fall, the cadence had been two years between releases: MISSION DEFROSTABLE in fall 2018, SHORT & SWEET in fall 2020, THE GREAT CAPER CAPER in fall 2022, and ATTACK OF THE SCONES in fall 2024.

So why only *one* year between SCONES and WHODONUT? My editors knew it would be the 10^th anniversary of the series, but they can’t always control when books come out. I think the strongest factor was sales and marketing – once they got wind of it being a holiday book, they got excited and made a place for it on the 2025 holiday season list.

So mostly a coincidence?

Me: I know in the past you’ve tried to have every book in this series be a different genre, but in this book you return to the mystery genre. I couldn’t be more delighted with this “locked-room” mystery with Agatha Crispy! What gave you the idea for this latest story?

Josh: So, when discussing what genre to tackle next with my editors, I threw out a handful of ideas and when I suggested a whodunit, one of my editors said “as long as there’s a donut in it.”

It wasn’t until several hours later when I got it. Donut sounds like “dunit”–at which point I knew the title would have to be WHODONUT.

And to differentiate this genre from THE CASE OF THE STINKY STENCH, which I previously called a “mystery,” I would now call it a “mystery adventure,” whereas WHODONUT is a “whodunit” – or even a “holiday whodunit.”

So they’re all still technically different genres. At least in my head.

I mean, to be fair, SHORT & SWEET and ATTACK OF THE SCONES could both be called “Science Fiction”– but I call SHORT & SWEET a “SciFi-Comedy/Magical-Bodyswap” and ATTACK OF THE SCONES an “Alien Invasion.”

Me: Ha! Good point. The first page alone had me simply floored at all the clever inclusions you had for a holiday mystery. Breadway and Golden Cake Bridge! Nuts and Crackers rehearsing a ballet! Plus you did it in rhyme AND with an allusion to that great holiday classic poem by Clement Clarke Moore! AMAZING! So let’s talk craft and dig deep here. When you first get your idea for one of these stories and are picking out the different aspects to include in the “genre,” do you brainstorm all the possible things to include before even getting to plot or rhyme? Or do you craft your stories one line at a time with a “crappy first draft” and fine tune it from there? Are you plotter or pantser with the books in this series?

Josh: I’ve definitely become more of a plotter over time, especially with sequels because I know the format and pacing of the series. And for that reason, my first drafts are a lot better than they used to be.

Except I wouldn’t really describe it as being a “plotter”–I’d say I’m, as you put it, a “brainstormer.” I make lists of things I think would be cool to see in the story.

In the past we’ve had random locales with various topographical features like Corn Chowder Lake, Fjords of Farfalle, and Mount Everbean. And sometimes they’re more spoofy puns of famous landmarks like Trifle Tower, Las Veggies, and Limes Square. For this one I knew it would start at the mailbox, so I could place it in a city of sorts and I brainstormed famous streets and bridges. Therefore, we’ve got “Breadway” and the “Golden Cake Bridge.”

But sometimes, the idea hits me way later during the revision process – like the nuts and the crackers rehearsing a ballet. That was a much later add.

Me: Speaking of genius, your text paired with Brendan Kearney’s illustrations is what really takes it to the next level. I was giggling over every one of the Breadway posters on that same first page! Beauty and the Beets! My Pear Lady! HA! Did you have any art notes for Brendan Kearney that might have been pertinent to the mystery? Or are you at the point in your relationship with him that you just let him go to town and do his own illustration magic (like those hilarious book titles in the library or those puntastic musicians)?

Josh: It was all illustrator Brendan Kearney’s idea to add all the Breadway musicals. He originally also had HAM-ilton, but the editorial team thought it was a little too on the nose.

I sometimes have art notes, but I have no idea how many of them even get sent to Brendan. I think a few of the book titles on the shelf were my idea (And Then There Were Buns), but I’m not even sure. Most of the stuff on the shelves like the Egger Allan Poe bust were all Brendan’s genius.

Of course I did have one specific art request …

Me: I was just gonna ask about that! I’ve followed you for many years on social media and I know how important it is to you to be nondenominational at the holiday season. In fact, you celebrate with a Winter Solstice Ironing Board (not a tree) and have posted pictures on social media in years past. I was tickled pink when I saw that very same thing show up in the illustrations! Was that a surprise for you too? Any illustration surprises and/or favorites in the book for you?

Josh: Yes! I asked for the Winter Solstice Ironing Board to be illustrated as a personal request. In fact, two of them show up – one in Agatha Crispy’s Gingerbread Mansion and one in Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast’s apartment at the end.

In fact, I think the only holiday mentioned in the book by name is Diwali (and there are “Solstice wreaths” if that counts). The book takes place on “Holiday Eve”–so I guess the holiday they’re celebrating is “Holiday?” There are references (mostly visual) to Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Diwali, the Winter Solstice, and Christmas – mostly the ‘festival of lights’ and December holidays (There’s also a nod to Halloween in there, too).

I’m sure there are lots of other holidays that could have fit, but I was very conscious about not focusing on a single holiday making it a book for only some. Ideally, it’s inclusive for all.

Me: I love that! You included many favorite characters from throughout the series. I laughed when I saw Fruitcake included because of course he had to be! He’s a perfect character to include in a holiday story. Did you intentionally include a character from every book in the series so far? Was there a rhyme or reason (pun intended) for the ones you picked to be included?

Josh: Here’s where I knew I wanted the book to be sort of like Clue (the movie). I wanted that scene where pairs of characters all searched the mansion. And the best way to do that was to bring back the major characters from previous stories. The only book we didn’t pull from was ATTACK OF THE SCONES, but that was because the new characters in that book were [REDACTED TO AVOID SPOILERS].

Obviously, we’d have the big three: Lady Pancake, Sir French Toast, and Baron von Waffle. Plus, Inspector Croissant and Fruitcake (book 2), Agent Asparagus (book 3), Professor Biscotti (book 4), and Count Caper (book 5). Lime, the Twin Beets, and Tofu have never had speaking roles, but have all also been around since book 1, and are fan favorites (at least in my head). And Miss Steak and Spuddy Holly have been around since book 2 and showed up in at least illustrations in several of the other titles.

Spuddy Holly does finally get a line in WHODONUT saying “Say it ain’t so!” which is probably a subconscious Weezer reference as both songs “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Aint’ So” are on their debut blue album.

I’m sure I left out someone’s favorite character, but I feel like I got the majority of the cast of the series into the mansion for this one, which was a very intentional goal.

Me: I love that every book in the series ends with a big musical celebratory illustration, but I was particularly fond of the character guide at the back of this book as well. I could totally see that as a puzzle! It’s a really fun inclusion for an anniversary celebration. Yet there was one or two I didn’t recognize (and now need to go back and search each book to find)! Does this list include all the characters that have come to exist in this series so far? Or are there some not included here?

Josh: That page is the gatefold–horizontal this time. And it was all Brendan’s idea. I’m sure there are some very minor unnamed characters not included, but I think it’s a pretty comprehensive list. I don’t think all of Professor Biscotti’s minion cookies are shown, but there’s at least one or two of them. Same goes for the popsicles and tater tots. But I think Brendan covered pretty much everything.

And if I’m wrong, some superfan smarty pants 8-year-old will definitely let me know (I’m counting on it).

Thanks so much for these awesome questions! And don’t miss the WHODONUT Preorder Sweepstakes which lasts until release day, September 9^th. One winner gets a free in-person visit from me to your local school, library, or bookshop (and seven winners get signed sets of the entire series).

Thanks for stopping by my blog again today Josh.

Dear readers, this book publishes in a couple of weeks. It’s hilarious with all the mystery twists you could ask for. Trust me when I say you won’t want to miss it.